Pharmacy technicians work collaboratively with pharmacists and physicians to prepare and dispense medications to patients. The daily duties vary according to the pharmacy setting, but all technicians report to a registered pharmacist, who must check prescriptions for accuracy before dispensing to patients. Pharmacy technician programs prepare students to measure prescription medications, process insurance claims, answer phone calls, receive digital prescriptions, assist customers, update patient records, monitor medication inventory and notify pharmacist when supplies are low, package and label prescriptions, accept customer payments, and direct patients how to use medications. Pharmacy technicians manage most of the day-to-day operations of the pharmacy, giving pharmacists the freedom to focus on patient counseling and other key duties. The extensive role of pharmacy technicians in retail and institutional pharmacies has increased the need for national certification. Employers today are more likely to seek out and hire technicians who have completed the requirements for certification through an accrediting organization such as the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB).
Employment for pharmacy technicians is projected to grow 12 percent from 2016 to 2026. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the median annual wage for pharmacy technicians was $31,750 in 2017. Pharmacy technician graduates find employment in a variety of settings including hospitals, retail pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, and privately owned pharmacies.
Chester Career College
The pharmacy technician program at Chester Career College prepares adults for employment in a pharmacy where they will distribute medications under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. The program will support the development of knowledge and skills needed to manage pharmacy inventory, educate patients in the use of prescription medications, update patient records, and prepare and dispense medication in accordance with state laws. Students learn how to communicate effectively, calculate dosages, use pharmacy terminology, and distinguish between generic and brand name drugs. Course modules include drug calculations, abbreviations, dosage forms, routes of administration, filling prescriptions, over the counter medications, drug interactions, compounding solutions, ointments, and creams, aseptic techniques, classification of drugs, hospital pharmacy, pharmacy stock, IV mixtures, billing, repackaging medications, and pharmacy software. In addition to the classroom lectures, students will participate in an externship that will provide real-world in various pharmacies. Graduates will be eligible to take the Pharmacy Technician Certification Examination to acquire the credential of Certified Pharmacy Technician. The duration of the program is 45 weeks.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Submit a completed application form
- Pay the application fee of $25
Tuition for the certificate program is $15,620.
- Website: https://chestercareercollege.edu/programs-4/pharmacy-technician/
- Address: 751 W Hundred Rd, Chester, VA 23836
- Phone: 804-751-9191
- Fax: 804-751-2599
- Email: info@chestercareercollege.edu
Chesterfield County Public Schools – Career and Technical Center
The pharmacy technician program prepares students for employment as a pharmacy technician in a retail or institutional pharmacy. Students will also be prepared for success on the Pharmacy Technician Certification Board exam. The program covers 51 hours of theoretical instruction. Course topics include medical terminology, the history of pharmacy, pharmacy calculations and measurements, reading and interpreting prescriptions, and defining drugs by generic and brand names. Other topics include the top 200 drugs, dosage calculations, IV flow rates, dose conversions, sterile compounding, aseptic techniques, total parenteral nutrition, dispensing prescriptions, billing and reimbursement, and inventory control. In addition to the classroom lectures, students will participate in hands-on lab to develop clinical skills. Opportunities are available to work as an intern in local pharmacies. Classes meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma or GED
- Complete an admission evaluation
Tuition costs $530.
- Website: https://mychesterfieldschools.com/
- Address: 13900 Hull Street, Midlothian, VA 23112
- Phone: (804) 768-6140
Bremo Pharmacies Business Office and Training Center
The pharmacy technician program at Bremo Pharmacies takes a flexible format to empower students with the preparation for a career in health without affecting their schedule. The program is designed to be completed in three months and requires a commitment of two hours a week for classes and an additional one to three hours for study. Graduates will have the confidence to pass the national exam to become Certified Pharmacy Technicians. In the spacious classroom, instructors cover drug calculations, abbreviations, dosage forms, pharmaceutics, routes of administration, filling prescriptions, over the counter medications, drug interactions, adverse reactions to medications, classification of drugs, hospital pharmacy, pharmacy stock, IV mixtures, billing, repackaging medications, and pharmacy software to prepare students to work in a retail or hospital pharmacy. Students will develop an understanding of the legal aspects of practice such as compounding laws, labeling requirements, controlled substances, and regulatory agencies. Bremo will also cover math skills to help students who are not strong in math. The last two weeks of the program will include study tips and practice tests to prepare students for success on the PTCB exam. Evening and daytime classes are available. The evening class meets on Thursdays from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. The day class meets on Friday from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.
Admission criteria:
- A high school diploma or GED
- A completed application and fee
The cost of attendance is approximately $625 and includes registration, tuition, and books.
- Website: https://bremorx.com/pharmacy-courses/pharmacy-technician-course/
- Address: 2002 Staples Mill Road, Richmond, VA 23230
- Phone: 804-285-8055 ext 130
Professional Career Institute
Professional Career Institute prepares students for a career in as a pharmacy technician in just three weeks. Graduates will receive a certificate of completion and will be eligible to sit for the PTCB exam to become a Certified Pharmacy Technician. The curriculum includes a total of 50 hours of classroom and clinical hours. Areas of study include pharmacy abbreviations, dosage forms and calculations, aseptic techniques, compounding solutions, drug interactions, IV mixtures, billing, pharmacy calculations, inventory, patient profiles, and pharmacy software. Day and evening schedules are available. Classes meet Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm or from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
Admission criteria:
- Be 18 years or older
- Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
- Provide a copy of a state ID and social security card
- Complete a criminal background check
Tuition for the program is $1,250.
- Website: http://procareerinstitute.org/
- Address: 9200 Arboretum Parkway Suite 110, Richmond, VA 23236
- Phone: 804-327-9740
- Fax: 804-327-9745
- Email: admissions@procareerinstitute.org